Amazing sunset reaking through dark clouds shining a light on the Illinois farmlands as we drove down to Normal from Chicago after later afternoon rain storm - The room venue lined during the show with Illinois State Troopers in Yogi hats inside of the venue throughout the show but it di not diminish the merriment - Venue was a modest basket ball area with stands on three sides of and an empty dance floor on the hard maple boards. I have no clue what the sounds were during the space jam but it was unique - and never heard before - some kind of synthesized percussion. The Dead played the Riviera either a week before or after this show in Uptown Chicago but the setup, decorations and light show at Normal were completely unique and unlike any of the other 20+ shows I saw around the Midwest from 76-79 - the night ended at 3 AM at Taco Loco on Lawrence in the northside of chicago for mexican breakfast - we were all famished and satisfied.

This show is very good...but then I really dig early 78 stuff. Go on utube and check out duke Cameron indoor stadium 4-12-78. A video that some students took and it's great. The U.S. Blues encore is priceless. Jerry is so animated.

Do you know what that is? What the hell is that? At say about 4:50 in the drums or so some strange animals appear via whatever.. Was anyone there who can shed some light on what the hell that is? Was there an anti seal or bird killing protest that day? It sounds like a seal hunting expedition, or something exceptional. This is the kind of space that we pay the big bucks for, although this show probably cost $5. The songs are fine, but the drumsspace is exceptional. Anyone went to this have any insight?

This is an amazing show. I found this when I was looking for good Scarlet/Fires and stumbled on to an entire show. Previous comments about Donna are right - she is in key througout. Bobby is hillarious and Jerry is up for the romp. Billy and Mickey are just on this side of whacked out - maybe they are during the end of Cassidy. Not to be missed

Why have I missed this show?
Amazing

This is classic on fire Grateful dead at their best. Great sound.

I've been listening chronologically. The shows from earlier this month really bummed me out, with a few exceptions. Even shows that get a lot of love, like 4/15 and 4/16. Too many flubs and too much weird cokey energy. But the back half of the month things got a _lot_ better, culminating in this show. It's a corker.

78 was just an inconsistent year it seems. Some great highs and then a bunch of shows that are pretty cringe-worthy. This is one of the better ones.

This show smokes like a sweet pull off a four foot graffix with a two foot extension. Set One was the first Dead boot I nabbed and I remember every note like it was written in my soul.

The opening Promised Land sets the stage for an epic journey through a hot set of Spring '78 Dead. A majestic Ramble On Rose eases us into set one with Bobby slip slidin' away on his battle axe while Donna provides beautiful backing vocals to Jerry's lead. Bobby's slide is the perfect compliment to a soaring Garcia solo that makes it clear we are sitting plush with a royal flush. Note Keith's beautiful piano outro as the song trails off.

Next up is a truly unique moment in Dead history. 1978 was the peak of the disco era as Saturday Night Fever had premiered just a few months earlier in the winter of 1977. The Dead were not immune to disco fever and on this night they put the Bee Gees to shame with a Staying Alive intro that leads into a funky fresh Me and My Uncle that may be the best version ever played. There is another one from the early 70s that comes out of a Dark Star that may rival this one, but that is a debate for another time. Keith teases us with the Alive theme throughout while the Rhythm Devils keep things hopping. It is like someone dosed Travolta and his boys at 2001 Odyssey. Next comes a ridiculous transition into Big River. Billy and Mickey toy with us, switching rhythms back and forth as the music plays the band. Bobby is jive talking and Keith takes a fine solo. At this point it is an all out dance party.

Next up is Friend of the Devil as Jerry mercilously allows us to catch our breath. An exquisite intro shows how Bobby was really coming into his own as a rhythm guitarist. Keith leads off the solos before yielding to Bobby, then Jerry, as the three play off of each other beautifully while being backed up by the Rhythm Devils, not to mention some fine bass work from Phil. Got a wife in Chino, babe, and one in Cherokee. First one says she got my child but it don't look like me...no it don't!

A fine Cassidy follows and then comes a oh-so-sweet version of Brown Eyed Women. Billy and Mickey are on fire, again toying with the rhythm. The bridge is beautiful with Donna's backing vocals right on point while her husband does some fine work on the keys.

Now get ready for some heat as the boys warm up for Passenger. Garcia can't wait to get things going and so Bobby leads them right in. Phil is bombing his ass off. Bobby and Donna are in perfect sync. Jerry is punishing his guitar with heat on the slide. Nasty! False alarm...the only game in town! I agree that there is some serious chemisty here between Bobby and Donna. Jerry shreds his ass off as the heat cranks even higher.

I typically can't stand It Must Have Been The Roses but on this night the boys teach us a valuable lesson in psychedelic country and western. Brilliant!

Next up is Dance Fever USA. The Music Never Stops. I dare you to even try to stay in your seat. Billy and Mickey will not allow you. Phil cannot help you either. There seems to be a beat now, I can feel it in my feet now. Listen, here it comes again. Donna shines. This has to be one of her best nights ever. I don't know what the hell was going on that night but the trade offs between Bobby and Donna are epic. Bobby grunts. Donna replies, "good god". Bobby: "Cause I need somebody to help me." Donna: "Really?" Tremendous. Jerry then takes over, reminding us who is really the boss. Ripping notes, shredding strings. I think he was trying to destroy his guitar. I'm surprised he didn't. The band comes to a huge showstopping close and we are left only to ponder what exactly just occurred in the previous hour plus. The answer is a rip-roaring, jaw-dropping, dominating set of 1978 Dead that leaves no question as to the power of this band. Once I got my hands on this tape I was hooked for life. Six Stars.

Just by glancing at the set list you might think that this show isn't going to be anything all that special (especially the first set) and you'd be right except for the playing. The best Music Never Stopped that I've heard, and terrific versions of Scarlet/Fire and Terrapin make this a must hear. It's all good, there's not a bad banana in the bunch.

how can no one mention the blatant kick ass bass.

Phil Lesh must have gone to a nutritional center and cleaned out his system the night before.

I haven't listened to this whole show yet ... but as of 3/4 of the way into TMNS my jaw is just on the floor. This is a good one, kids.

Its apparent that Bobby and Donna got it on before, after, and maybe even sometime during this show. Their contributions is what makes this show special. The rest of the band feeds off their energy, and the rest as they say is history. Great show!

In my opinion this tops the Cornell 77' show scarlet->FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, music never stopped , cassidy, and too top it off a nice ARRRRRRROOOO from the band

In response to this show, i think a better one could have been Cornell 1977, but they are equal

the best ever. no doubter. someone please show us a better one. like jack straw from syracuse '84. best ever.

put 'er in your cup if you got the need. What the hay, let the good times roll and this is in the groove. High energy college crowd equals a strong run up through the end of terrapin... I think good lovin was kinda a let down after a slammin scarlet/fire. Guitar sizzles throughout, but check out between mins 6 & 7 on scarlet... holy burnin heavens-> a very hard rock guitar version. The end of this show is a let down but the first 3/4 is near perfect. Jerry flubs during FOTD, but the long guitar jam is experimental and yet seems so clear you wonder at the magic. Passenger is straight up classic sounding, and I'd say this is the one of the best versions of Cassidy, exemplifying the way I like it played. Go Bob! I also agree that Keith has some strong moments this show as previously noted.

and this is the best music never stopped ever played. hands down.

I like this show. 77-78 are meaningful years for me when it comes to the dead. I have also read that the band was coming apart around this time, mainly with K and D, but i think one could name this one of Keiths better efforts, especially toward the end of NFA, the cat was awake and in a groove. a very good bobby show too. And the encore,,,, this song must be played out of tune, it is, imho, a lot of fun.

1st set, straight all the way thru into Fire is mind-blowingly perfect, not a missed note anywhere. This is a new favorite Fire, it just might be superior to 2-5-78. And it is light years beyond 5-8-77. Scarlet is great too, and sweet harmonies by Donna on all songs.

I particularly like how aggressive Bobby is, he seems to be saying, "fuck rhythym guitar, we'll have 2 lkead guitars". Jerry gets extremely competitive with him, and by the end of the second Fire jam you will agree that this is a face-stealing moment and wish that Jerry and Bobby communicated musically in more other shows.

Check out Donna's singing onf Round&Round as well. You won't believe it! I thought it was some other woman, but no, she is really "on" on this night. Get this show however you can!

Great show. Standout versions of Roses, Scarlet/Fire and Terrapin. Most especially though is the Music Never Stopped that closes the first set. This thing is a monster. I feel that I can safely say that this is the definitive version of the 70's. You won't be dissapointed.

nice sound, good passenger, FOD and alot has already been said about the scarlet>fire...with which I'll agree. terrapin also has its moments. one thing that has not been mentioned is the nice bluesy jam to exit black peter. super sweet, and pretty much turns on a dime into A&A. as has been mentioned, the werewolves is pretty bad; the worst version i've heard. enjoy. 3.5 for the show, 4 for the sound...and i'll round up as usual.

dude! most mind blowing show ever!!!! at the risk of defying the rampant grade inflation that abounds -- well not really. but very good. spirited. worth hearing.

Hey, I am bonkers for Scarlet Begonias, and WOW this one is simply amazing. Yay! A new favorite!

What a great show.
Bobby really plays with finesse, giving the first set tunes a fresh read - one of the best Ramble's I've ever heard, great vocals on Me and My Uncle, almost understated, and a rockin MNS. And I am not normally a big Bobby fan.
Second set is inspired. Others have mentioned that this SB > FOTM is right up there with 5-8-77, I'm going to have to give a few more listens before I could say that, but they may be right.

I had read that in '78 the wheels were really starting to come off, particularly in the Keith & Donna camp. The music here really excells though.

This is an excellent show. One of my faavorite scarlet>fires that drops right into good lovin, and the first set is inspired with huge versions of music never stopped, ramble on rose and cassidy among others

This is my personal favorite Scarlet-Fire. For me, it's even better than any of the famous Scarlet-Fire performances in 1977. The rest of the show is top notch, too. This show has great energy. You won't hear much of anything that sounds like a mistake.

I have not heard much mention of this version- except on Phantasy Tour- First listen and I am a convert- there is some Bobby interplay with Jerry at the transition that is unique- total synch- just before that moment Jerry is playing a great flurry- and on into the fire and a rare moment where Bobby is playing dual lead with Jer-something I was searching around here for a few weeks ago- do yourself a favor and listen if you have not-

Throughout Fire there is interesting work from Bobby- screeching out some notes but not overpowering what Jer is doing- very very creative version of this combo

This is my favorite Ramble On Rose. Bobby was laying down a tasty rhythm and Jerry was WAY into it! MNS was incredible, along with others. The encore, however, was an out-of-tune mess. Yikes -- R.I.P., Warren Zevon as long as you don't hear anyone playing this version of your fine tune.

Sound quality = very good.

Real nice 1st set. (Stayin Alive tease - YES!)
Fine versions of Cassidy, BEWomen, and a great MNS (check out Bob and Donna goofing off before the time change. really fun!)

2nd set is a smoker!
This is a typical 1978 blowout. I think the lead break in Scarlet shakes with intensity, and after the last verse, the floor drops right out. They noodle for a while, real quiet, and build into a very interesting Fire, with some great peaks and valleys.

Maybe this isn't the pure Jerry-is-a-god show, but you can hear the whole band really clicking and interacting in some interesting ways (I like the interaction between the Bob slide stuff and the Jerry lead during Fire; it adds something a little bluesy and different, and dang spicy, IMO, and the drummers play their tails off to make this show an interesting listen).

Throw in a very subtle and dynamic Terrapin, and a Werewolves Encore (!) with even more tasty slide playing, and you got yourself one heckuva show. This is not a 5 because of the year: with all the other '78 change-the-world blowout type shows to compare this to, this show is a 4.5; not the very best of the year, but dang good. Thanks, LMA!!!!!!!!